1From George Washington to Burwell Bassett, 23 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
It would have given me much pleasure to have seen you at Richmond; and it was part of my original plan to have spent a few days with you at Eltham whilst I was in the lower parts of the Country; but an intervention of circumstances not only put it out of my power to do the latter, but would have stopped my journey to Richmond altogether had not the meeting, the time, and the place been of my...
2From George Washington to Burwell Bassett, 28 August 1762 (Washington Papers)
I was favoured with your Epistle wrote on a certain 25th of July when you ought to have been at Church, praying as becomes every good Christian Man who has as much to answer for as you have—strange it is that you will be so blind to truth that the enlightening sounds of the Gospel cannot reach your Ear, nor no Examples awaken you to a sense of Goodness—could you but behold with what religious...
3From George Washington to Burwell Bassett, 9 September 1770 (Washington Papers)
If this Letter reaches you in time, it will serve to ask if you have any commands to Yaughyaughgany, as I purpose to set out for that part of the World about the 3d or 4th day of Octr Next for a Short stay —A Report prevails here that the Ministry have lately granted to a Company in England, a large Tract of Country on the Ohio (Including the Lands we have just given £2500 Sterg for) to be...
4From George Washington to Burwell Bassett, 30 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
By Mr Custis I took the liberty of requesting the favor of you to set a value upon the Stock of every kind belonging to me at Claibornes except the Horses & Plantation Utensils which I gave him —I have since wrote to him (of this date) proposing that he shd take all the Corn, wheat, & Provender for the Cattle, so soon as it can be ascertained, at such prices as you shall affix; and if he...
5From George Washington to Burwell Bassett, 20 April 1773 (Washington Papers)
The interruption of the Post for several Weeks, prevented our receiving the melancholy account of your loss till within these few days. That we sympathize in the misfortune, and lament the decree which has deprivd you of so dutiful a Child, & the World of so promising a young Lady, stands in no need, I hope, of argument to proove; but the ways of Providence being inscrutable, and the justice...
6From George Washington to Burwell Bassett, 19 June 1775 (Washington Papers)
I am now Imbarkd on a tempestuous Ocean from whence, perhaps, no friendly harbour is to be found. I have been called upon by the unanimous Voice of the Colonies to the Command of the Continental Army—It is an honour I by no means aspired to—It is an honour I wished to avoid, as well from an unwillingness to quit the peaceful enjoyment of my Family as from a thorough conviction of my own...
7From George Washington to Burwell Bassett, 4 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 24th Ult. came to this place just time enough for me to acknowledge the receipt of it before I set out for New York which will be in an hour or two having come to this place at the request of Congress to settle some matters relative to the operations of the ensuing Campaign. My hurry as I am engaged in a good deal of business will not permit me to relate the few occurrances...
8From George Washington to Burwell Bassett, 22 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have just received your favor of the 30th Ulto, which is the only letter I recollect to have had from you these many Months. Thinking that Jack Custis and his Manager Posey, would have more leizure on their hands than might fall to your lot, I desired the former sometime ago to ease you of as much trouble as he could on my acct; but to advice with, & consult you in whatever he did relative...
9From George Washington to Burwell Bassett, 2 August 1765 (Washington Papers)
By a craft sent round by Captn Boyes we had the pleasure to hear you were all well, but suffering with the drought as we are—We have never had the Ground wet in this Neighborhood since the heavy Rains which fell about the first of May; in June early we had a Shower that refreshed the Corn, & gave a little start to Hemp; but the dry weather which followed, and hath since continued, renders our...
10From George Washington to Burwell Bassett, 17 September 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Burwell Bassett, 17 Sept. 1775. On 6 Nov. Bassett wrote to GW : “Your favour of the 17 Sepr came safe to hand.”
11From George Washington to Burwell Bassett, 28 February 1776 (Washington Papers)
It was with great pleasure I recieved your favor of the 27th ulto thereby learning that all our friends at Eltham are well. I thank you heartily for the attention you have kindly paid to my landed affairs on the Ohio, my interest in which I shall be more Careful of as in the worst event, they will serve for an Asylum. Few things of importance have occurred here of late, & to trouble you with...
12From George Washington to Burwell Bassett, 9 August 1773 (Washington Papers)
As I wrote to you by the last Post, and nothing New has happend since, this Letter only serves to cover the Inclosed to Mrs Bassett. The Horse Abel left here, is got quite well of his Lameness, but not recoverd of an exceeding swelld, & sore back which he received in coming up—This, and the boy telling me you did not work, or put him to any particular kind of Service, is the Reason why I have...
13From George Washington to Burwell Bassett, 16 January 1775 (Washington Papers)
Mount Vernon 16 January 1775 . The description of this letter in the dealer’s catalog reads: “Immediately upon my return from Col. Mercers sale . . . I wrote you a letter, by post, on the melancholy occasion of your sons death. . . . Mrs. Washington, Mr. & Miss Custis intend to accompany me down to the Assembly but it will be the 4th, possibly the 11th of the Month (Feby) before I shall see...
14From George Washington to Burwell Bassett, 18 June 1769 (Washington Papers)
As we have come to a Resolution to set of (if nothing unforeseen happens to prevent it) for the warmsprings about the 18th of next Month; I do, according to promise, give you notice thereof, & shoud be glad of your Company up with us, if you still entertain thought⟨s⟩ of trying the effects of those waters. You will have occasion to provide nothing, if I can be advisd of your Intention’s,...
15From George Washington to Burwell Bassett, 12 July 1773 (Washington Papers)
Abel set of on Friday last to return, but his Horse fell lame and he came back before he reachd Colchester—I thought it better to keep him a day or two to see if the Horse could travel, than send him of upon one of mine; but finding the swelling in his Leg no better, I have fixd him of upon a small thing of mine which you will please to send over to Claiborne’s. In the mean while your Horse...
16From George Washington to Burwell Bassett, 12 February 1774 (Washington Papers)
I find there will go some matters from this country, which will make my attendance at the Assembly necessary; this I cannot possibly do and go over the Mountains this Spring. I have therefore determined, much against my Inclination & Interest, to postpone my Trip to the Ohio till after Harvest (as I cannot well be absent from home at that Season.) As March therefore (at least the first of it)...
17From George Washington to Burwell Bassett, 15 February 1773 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 5th came to my hands in course of Post, last Thursday, and fill’d us with no small concern at the Indisposition of yourself and Family —equally concernd am I to hear of the unhappy state of our Paper Currency, and that the Interposition of the Assembly is thought necessary—should this measure be resolvd on, be so good as to advise Me, whether it be intended that the Country...
18From George Washington to Burwell Bassett, 26 December 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Burwell Bassett, 26 Dec. 1775. On 27 Jan. 1776 Bassett wrote to GW : “Your favour of the 26 of Decr is just come to hand.”
19From George Washington to Burwell Bassett, 15 December 1771 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Burwell Bassett, 15 Dec. 1771. On 21 Dec. Bassett wrote to GW : “Your favour of the 15 Inst. I receive in Wmsburg yesterday.”
20From George Washington to Burwell Bassett, 5 July 1763 (Washington Papers)
So good an oppertunity as Turner Crump on a visit to his Father (affords) I coud not omit of asking how you do; for I have nothing to require, and as little to communicate in this Epistle, as it cannot be News to inform you, that the Peace of the Frontier Inhabitants seems to have met with almost as rude a shock from the late Indian Insults, as it did from any of their Barbarities in the...
21From George Washington to Burwell Bassett, 20 June 1773 (Washington Papers)
It is an easier matter to conceive, than to describe, the distress of this Family; especially that of the unhappy Parent of our Dear Patcy Custis, when I inform you that yesterday removd the Sweet Innocent Girl into a more happy, & peaceful abode than any she has met with, in the afflicted Path she hitherto has trod. She rose from Dinner about four Oclock, in better health and spirits than she...